Veterinarija ir Zootechnika

Since 2014, it has been forbidden to keep pigs outside in Estonia, because of African swine fever. This study compared the welfare and health of pigs raised in indoor conventional and organic systems in Estonia. Selected parameters for comparison were included: stocking densities, behaviour, a human-animal approach test, lameness, dirtiness, tail biting, skin wounds and faecal samples for parasitic egg counts. Organic farms had poorer human-animal interactions compared with conventional farms, but were better in regards to the social and exploratory behaviour among pigs. They were also slightly better regarding lameness and dirtiness compared with conventional farms. Organic farms had less tail biting and skin wounds than conventional farms. Of 16 faecal samples from organic farms, 12 had parasite eggs, while none of the samples from conventional farms were positive. Welfare problems remain to be solved on organic pig farms irrespective of whether they are kept indoors or outdoors, but there are benefits to pig welfare under organic regulations even if they have no access to an outdoor area.

This research aims to assess the existence rate, most dangerous virulence genes (aerolysin (aerA) and hemolysis (ahh1)), antibiotics sensitivity, and resistance pattern of Aeromonas hydrophila strains that were isolated from 100 raw marketed buffalo milk samples, which were gathered from Dakahlia governorate, Egypt. The culturally obtained Aeromonas spp. were evidenced in about 87% of the examined raw market milk samples while the biochemical investigation revealed that 72% of the inspected samples were polluted with Aeromonas species. On the other hand, A. hydrophila was detected in about 30% of the examined market milk samples. In addition, molecular detection of aerA and ahh1 virulence factors of 19 A. hydrophila isolates using multiplex PCR was carried out. Then, it was detected that 8 (42.1%) isolates had aerA gene, while 5 (26.3%) isolates possessed ahhl gene and 4 (21.1%) isolates had both aerA and ahh1 genes. Additionally, 2 (10.5%) isolates were negative for the two inspected genes. All A. hydrophila isolates (19) showed resistance against streptomycin antibiotic; the average multiple antibiotic resistance between A. hydrophila isolates was 0.431, and it reached 1 in one strain (positive for aerA gene) as this strain was resistant to all used antibiotics. In conclusion, this study reveals a high incidence of multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) of A. hydrophila strains that were isolated from marketed milk samples in Dakahlia governorate. Moreover, it indicates the presence of virulence genes.

Growing urbanization and the related demand for resources together with the climate change appear to be among the factors responsible for the intensified frequency and severity of disasters worldwide. At the same time, urbanization is related not only with the increasing flow of inhabitants to the big cities but also with an increase in the number of pet ownership in seeking social, psychological and health benefits. But when a disaster strikes, companion animals are affected as much as humans. Their survival depends on the preliminary preparedness of their guardians for disaster response and recovery. For this purpose, the present study investigated the level of disaster preparedness among 335 pet owners in Bulgaria through an anonymous written questionnaire. The results showed that 64.86% of the participants in the survey were women, 52.24% of all respondents were 19–24 years old and 75.45% were keeping pets at the moment of filling in the survey. The study found that 87.16% of the respondents were well-informed about the likelihood of disaster hazards in their residential area. Pet owners were prepared to approach the relevant public health authorities (89.55% of them), respectively the animal health services (82.88%) in case of emergency. Only 36.72% of all pet keepers had a prepared disaster family plan, with another 28.96% of the respondents having developed a disaster pet action plan for their animal companions. If emergency evacuation is needed, more than 66% of the respondents would take their pets with them during relocation. This intention was statistically significant in women and those pet owners who were familiar with the potential disaster hazards.

Five hundred broilers chickens were used to study the effect of quantitative feed restriction during the growth period on the zootechnical performance and economical efficiency. Chickens were raised collectively during the starter period and a part of the growing period. At 24days of age, chickens were divided into three groups: control group, fed ad libitum, and two experimental groups (R1 and R2) restricted, respectively, to 10% and 20% of the daily feed intake of the control between 32 and 42 days of age. At 43 days, chickens of R1 and R2 were re-fed ad libitum until the end of the raising (49 days) where 13 randomly selected chickens from each group were slaughtered to record the weight of the heat carcass. Results showed that the average final live weight and the average heat carcass weight were

The purpose of the current research was to study the influence of dietary supplementation of nettle (Urtica dioica) on laying performance, egg quality and blood serum biochemical parameters of layers. A total of 60 laying hens (42 weeks old) from Lohman Klassik Brown breed were randomly allocated into three groups: a control and two experimental groups (n = 20 hens per group). All layers received compound feed with the following nutritional value: 2710 Kcal/kg metabolizable energy; 16.44% crude protein; 3.32% crude fats; 4.58% crude fibres; 3.73% Са; 0.49% Р. The hens from the experimental groups received 0.3% (experimental group 1) and 0.5% (experimental group 2) of dried nettle with the diet. Both experimental groups had significantly higher egg yolk pigmentation (p < 0.001) compared with the control group. A significantly lower egg yolk cholesterol content was found in hens from experimental group 1 (p < 0.05). Nettle addition reduced significantly blood serum glucose (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05 in experimental groups 1 and 2, respectively) as well as the total serum cholesterol content (p < 0.001).

Milkability is defined as the ability of an animal to give a regular, complete, and rapid milk secretion by the mammary gland in response to a proper milking technique. Indicators of milk production and milkability of ewes were determined in 359–370 ewes of 9 genotypes. For each ewe, the milk flow was recorded during the individual control measurements. The amount of milked milk was measured in individual time intervals after the attachment of milking cups to teats on udder of the ewe (10 indicators). We processed the obtained data using the REML methodology, with the MIXED procedure of the SAS statistical package. All indicators characterizing milk production and milkability of ewes were statistically significantly influenced by the genotype and the control year factors (p < 0.001). The order and stage of lactation were also significant factors in some cases. The machine milk yield of the monitored population of ewes was 318.26 mL on average. The total milk yield was 436.58 mL and the machine stripping ratio was 27.73% on average, ranging from 0 to 95%. The highest machine stripping ratio was determined in the Lacaune breed (37.69%), which had the highest total milk yield (524.69 mL) and one of the highest machine milk yield (332.70 mL). Compared with purebred Tsigai ewes and ewes of the Improved Valachian breed, crossbreeds with specialized dairy breeds (Lacaune and East Friesian) had better milk production and, in some indicators, also better milkability.

The aim of the study was to examine the neurobehavioral and biochemical toxicity of atrazine herbicides in chicks. This is a model of poisoning we explored recently to further elucidate the toxic action of atrazine. The acute oral LD50 of atrazine was determined by the Dixon method; acute toxic symptoms of atrazine were recorded. The activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (liver enzymes), as well as blood glucose, were determined, and the effects of atrazine on open field activity and body weight were also examined. Atrazine’s LD50 was 1435.25 mg/kg when given orally. The oral administration of atrazine at doses of 1300 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg to chicks resulted in the appearance of acute poisoning symptoms such as depression, dyspnea, frequent defecation, lacrimation, ataxia (which appeared in both treatments at 100%), as well as profuse salivation, nasal discharge followed by tremors, convulsions, recumbency, and death (which appeared in the first treatment at a percentage higher than the second treatment). The oral dosing of atrazine at 574 mg/kg and 861 mg/kg caused a significant increase in AST, ALT, and glucose levels in the plasma of treated chicks after 24 hours compared with the control group and with treated groups after 4 hours. The oral administration of atrazine at doses 71.75 mg/kg, 143.5 mg/kg, and 287 mg/kg, twice a week for 2 weeks, led to an increase in motor activity through the significant increase in squares crossed and jumping frequency, and decrease in the bodyweight of chick. Our results conclude that atrazine has toxic effects on chicks through its effects on liver enzymes, body weight, and neurobehavioral activity.

The purpose of this study was to compare the fatty acid profile of intramuscular fat (IMF) in semimembranosus, longissimus dorsi, ventral serratus, rectus abdominis, costal part of the diaphragm, and trapezius muscles in Large White and Landrace pigs. Samples were taken from pair carcasses of pigs at the Taurian Bacon slaughterhouse of ZAO “Freedom Farm Bacon”, Kherson. The fatty acid composition of the muscles of the Large White and Landrace pig breeds is similar to each other, especially in m. longisimus dorsi. The greatest differences in

The deficiency of tick control causes large economic losses for the health of animals and the risk of transmission of zoonotic diseases. Their control is based on the use of acaricides such as organophosphates, synthetic pyrethroids, amidines and macrocyclic lactones; however, its inappropriate use has favoured the presence of populations resistant to the main families of acaricides. This study was conducted with the objective to evaluate the resistance of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus against three widely used ixoidicides in Nicaragua, namely coumaphos, amitraz and cypermethrin, applied in the concentrations indicated by the manufacturer. For this, the techniques of Adult Immersion Test (AIT) and Larval Package Test (LPT) were applied, for which ticks were collected from farms in Western Nicaragua. The results obtained through the AIT show that coumaphos has a higher percentage of oviposition inhibition of 86%, while cypermethrin only demonstrated an oviposition of 12.9%. Mortality in adults treated with coumaphos was 97.72%, and in those treated with amitraz it was 48.8%, while cypermethrin only provided a mortality of 14.71%. In this study, the Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus ticks collected from cattle were determined to have elevated levels of resistance to cypermethrin but low resistance to coumaphos.

Feed for farm animals is an environmental factor that has a significant impact on various physiological functions, productivity, health, and homeostasis of the body. It is the subject of research in many sciences, including ecology. Scientists in different countries of the world have begun to pay special attention to the study of the ecological safety of animal feed, which is associated with the urbanization of settlements, the development of industry, oil and gas production, accidents on main gas pipelines, mining of coal and gas, the placement of agricultural land by large cars, and livestock farms not far from the developed industrial center of metallurgical complex enterprises, etc., which leads to soil pollution with toxic heavy metals, and then migration and accumulation of elements in plants from the produced feed included in the rations. The aim of the research was to establish the quality and biological completeness of feed rations of dairy cows in enterprises located near environmentally unfavorable anthropogenic objects. The object of research included norms of rations, corn silage, alfalfa haylage, corn